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There’s been plenty of discussion concerning Team USA’s decision to leave Caitlin Clark off of the roster ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, and Kevin Durant seems to think it was the right move despite being a big fan of the rising star.
It’s hard not to be impressed by the sheer amount of Discourse surrounding Caitlin Clark, who may not be the most talented player in the WNBA but nonetheless became its biggest name when she was drafted by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick.
Earlier this month, we were treated to plenty of outrage after Team USA announced the crew of American women who will be heading to Paris for the Summer Olympics, which includes established WNBA stars including Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart, and A’ja Wilson.
It’s easy to understand why the squad is filled with WNBA veterans (Jackie Young is aptly the youngest player on the roster at the age of 26), but the decision to leave Clark off a roster that doesn’t feature any rookies still garnered a ton of backlash from people who felt the former Iowa superstar had been snubbed.
Kevin Durant (a man who knows a thing or two about basketball) recently got that chance to address the fairly overblown controversy during a sitdown with The Wall Street Journal, and while it’s clear he appreciates what Clark has managed to do for the sport, he had a pretty reasonable reaction to the decision to exclude her.
Here’s what he had to say around the 7:15 mark:
“I still think there’s proper steps you have to take in our world to be considered an Olympian. I think she’s definitely going to be on one of these teams going forward, but right now, there’s better candidates out there, I think.
But Caitlin’s just gotta continue to keep showing up every day. The WNBA is doing a great job of showcasing her. I’m seeing her games on ESPN every other day…
As she keeps getting better as a player, her production on the court gets better, then the league will grow, alongside some of the other women as well.”
As things currently stand, it seems safe to assume Clark will be on the Olympic roster when the Summer Games head to Los Angeles in 2028, and there’s little doubt Team USA is in prime position to secure its eighth consecutive gold medal in Paris despite her absence.